UFOs Prospecting in Joshua Tree National Park?

One of most amazing of the numerous Joshua Tree urban legends, has to be the story of the Barry Storm UFO jade mine.

But why?

Well, let’s list a few points of this fabulous story:

UFOs and aliens

Hollywood movies

The Men in Black

Ancient Aztec treasure

Mafia hitmen

Intrigued?

Then watch this episode of Mojave Mysteries in which Author and host M.L. Behrman details the incredible story of a man who sought his fortune in the desert. And found it – with the help of aliens!

Who Was Barry Storm?

Barry Storm’s real name was John G. Climenson, a miner, prospector and adventurer from Arizona. He led gold prospecting trips for people, including former GOP presidential candidate Barry Goldwater, from whom he took the name “Barry” before adding “Storm”.

He also wrote books on treasure hunting and lost mines. One of which was turned into a Hollywood movie entitled “Lust For Gold” starring Glen Ford and Ida Lupino. But Hollywood turned Storm’s stomach and he returned to the desert to seek his fortune.

Flying Saucers in Joshua Tree National Park

So, in the early 1950’s while out prospecting in the Pinto Basin area of what would later become Joshua Tree National Park, Storm struck gold.

Well, actually, he struck Jade. To be even more precise, he struck nephrite, which is a lower grade of Jade.

But it was HOW he found his mine of Jade that left people scratching their heads and has become one of Joshua Tree’s favorite urban legends.

According to Storm, one day while out in the heat of the desert 3 flying saucers appeared and hovered over a distant ridge. Focusing a beam of light onto a small hill, they “informed” Storm via telepathy that he was to dig there.

And he did – finding a vein of jade and filing a claim to work it.

The entrance to Storm’s old mine

Building a cabin and establishing himself for the next 20 years, Storm worked his mine.

Ancient Aztecs And The Men in Black

But as he worked his mine and aged, Storm began to grow a bit eccentric. He claimed his jade mine was the source of the fabulous jade ornaments and statues fashioned by the ancient Aztec and Mayan cultures. Although he might have thought so, scientists today can prove the jade artifacts in our museums came from Central America and not Storm’s mine.

He also claimed that the Men in Black, likely government operatives were keeping watch on him. Obviously because of his contact with the Aliens and UFO’s. The Barry Storm UFO Jade Mine had quite the reputation!

Then The Mob Came Around

The old man soon came to tell that there was a mob contract out on his life. Although why they should care about what happened way out in the desert of Joshua Tree is more of a mystery than the mine itself.

And sadly, old Barry Storm also said people were dropping in and stealing things from him. Something that unfortunately could have been quite possible. There is never a shortage of thieves in the desert and around mines rumored to be rich and producing.

The Final Curtain For The Barry Storm UFO Jade Mine

In 1971, poor old Barry Storm died in the VA hospital in Long Beach, California. Worn out by years in the sun and breaking his back mining his UFO-prospected jade mine. He had been able to eek out a living selling fragments to the locals and living off of his meager book sales, but didn;t leave much behind.

Except for his mine. Which you can still visit today if you are out in the Pinto Basin area of Joshua Tree National Park. But be warned, it’s not UFO’s and Aliens you have to worry about – it’s the heat and sandy road.

Take water, use a 4×4 and let someone know you’re headed out there. It’s worth the trek and if you do go, please don’t take anything other than pictures.

It’s Always Strange in The Mojave

Another fireside chat with Mojave Mysteries Author and host M.L. Behrman. Tonight some strange tales about ghosts, devil worshipers and other paranormal happenings in the Mojave.

Join us-

What Would You Do?

If you encountered a ghost? Now keep in mind not all ghost stories have entities that look like your classic “spook in a sheet” or black-draped figures rattling chains and moaning the blues. Or maybe even something like the road ghost phenomenon reported by some.

Sometimes it can be an orb, a ball of light, a cold feeling on your skin. Or just a fleeting glance of a person or figure.

Tonight’s ghost story is about the latter – a ghostly glimpse at a remote desert canyon of what life – or death – might have been.

Devil Worshippers or Local Druggies?

You’ll have to decide after hearing this creepy story about finding a remote cabin with all the hallmarks of devil worship and satanism. Pentagrams, sacrificed animals and spray-painted threats of torture and murder. Was it the work of true satanic believers or the meth-induced ravings of desert druggies?

And what would you have done if you were the one out there all alone who discovered the nauseating alter they had constructed?

Paranormal is Where You Find it

When asked “where can I find paranormal places in the desert” the answer is a conundrum. Because what IS paranormal – and who can really predict where it might occur or be experienced?

A paranormal event is three things:

Unexpected

In a place not expected

In a manner not expected

So how can one offer a guide book approach to the phenomenon? Answer – you can’t short of some cliche advice like “go to Area 51 and watch for UFOs”.

Two stories from tonight’s fireside chat offers two sides to the question of where to find paranormal events in the Mojave Desert. And they might just surprise – or terrify you!

So Watch The Video And Enjoy!

It’s free and sure to keep you interested for a bit. So ghosts, devil worshipers and paranormal happenings. Grab a cup of coffee and join us!

What’s just about everyone’s worst nightmares, whether out camping in the desert or even about the house?

Yep, GIANT SPIDERS!

And I’m not talking about those little eight-legged creepy crawlies that we happen upon everyday while going about our business. No, I’m talking about spiders the size of small dogs and with the ability to bring down prey much larger than some piddly insect – we’re talking large animals and even … shudder … human beings!

Spider Fact #1 – On any given day you’re only 6 feet away from some type of spider

Currently, the largest spider recognized by science is the Goliath Bird-Eater of South America (how’s that for a name?) and it is said to have a leg span of up to eleven inches. And while it is certainly a giant spider by anyone’s yardstick, there remains tales and stories of even larger spiders being seen out in the Mojave Desert.

Now everyone has seen pictures of hairy desert tarantulas (and if you’re like me, devoured all those great cheapo-yet-creepy 1950’s movies about giant tarantulas running rampant across the countryside scaring teenagers) but truth be told, they are fairly slow and docile animals that just want to be left alone as they go about their business.

Spider Fact #2 – Some restaurants in Asia serve fried tarantula as a side dish

But there HAVE been reports and rumors of much bigger spiders being encountered out in the Mojave Desert – if you’ve read my book or seen my YouTube Channel you know I’ve done stories on both giant spiders in the Mojave and the legend of giant camel spider attacks that you might find interesting.

SO could there be something that big lurking out there ready to dine on you or your loved ones should you be so lucky as to be camping in the desert? Well, I personally have seen tarantulas as big as a small dinner plate (and even got some shaky phone video of the beastie as seen in my episode linked above) but so far no one has actually brought back proof of any giant spiders that could be scientifically validated.

But that doesn’t mean people aren’t still reporting seeing giant spiders in the desert.

Spider Fact #3 – Spiders do not normally feed on humans and typically their bites only occur as a defense mechanism

If you read through some of the comments on my YouTube channel on the giant spider episodes, you’ll see some people report seeing or encountering a larger-than-life spider on several occasions.

One man said while he was in the army and working as a transport driver, he happened to be delivering some supplies to an isolated outpost in the Mojave when he came across a giant spider crossing the road. He said it was big, black and hairy and when the heavy truck he was driving hit the animal (he was moving too fast to swerve and to be honest, didn’t really feel like doing so) the front wheels actually bounced and gave the entire truck a jolt as they passed over the monster’s body. He said he and his commanding officer, who was in the truck beside him, looked at each other and decided they were NOT going to stop. Pity really, we might just have had the chance to actually get a specimen of these extremely rare creatures.

Spider Fact # 4 – The giant black house spider’s original habitat consists mostly of caves or dry forests where it is found under rocks, but it is a very common spider in people’s homes

When I appeared on the Coast to Coast radio show, one of the listeners who called in reported then when he was a young man, he and his brother had stopped by the side of the road in the desert to relieve themselves. And when standing there in the darkness, they happened to see a set of red eyes reflecting back at them. Their father very wisely told them to leave it alone, finish their business and get back in the truck, but as boys will do, they decided to pick up some rocks and through them at the thing.

What happened next would make anyone piss themselves! Hurtling out of the darkness toward the two boys was what he described as a “giant spider” that tried to attack them before they could run screaming back to their father’s truck and clamber in. The only real description of the thing he could give was that it was a big hairy tarantula-like spider but of a size that was astounding – and that he carried the nightmare of that moment for the rest of his life.

Like anyone would!

Spider Fact #5 – It is estimated that the average house or domicile has 30 spiders at any one time

So, the question is asked – are you at risk for being attacked by a giant spider in the Mojave Desert? Well, if you want the odds, I’d say you’re probably not going to have to worry too much about it. You will certainly see a large tarantula or two, maybe a camel spider (the normal size ones) and some very big scorpions, especially at night, but come out and enjoy the Mojave.

But if you do see a set of red eyes (or bluish-white or even green depending on the species) looking back at you reflecting from your campfire or flashlight – DON’T throw any rocks at it!

Cheers!

BONUS Spider Tips

– Don’t leave your tent unzipped during the day or night, that’s just asking to have a whole bunch of creepy crawly visitors come in (they’re looking for shade or warmth too) and pay you a visit.

– Never leave your boots or clothes laying on the ground. And if you do, make sure you shake them out well before putting them on.

– Make sure there are no spider burrows or holes under your tent or tarp. Blocking the entrance to one’s home means he or she just might decide to give you a nasty surprise while you lay sleeping – or getting up in the morning and stepping out.

– Don’t squash a spider in the desert – the great spirit of all living things will get mad and send a real big one to make your life painful as hell.

One of the Mojave Desert’s most enduring urban legends is one of the giant camel spider, a ferocious monster who allegedly hitched a ride home in the packs or more likely, the shipping containers the military sent home from battlefields in the Middle East.

Well, it’s a creature that is neither “fish nor fowl”, meaning, it sits in its own niche somewhere between a scorpion and a spider. The official term is “Solifugae” and it’s one ugly little customer.

Usually found between 1 and 5 inches in length, this fierce little hunter usually contents itself with eating insects, but some of the larger specimens are known to east small reptiles and even rodents! And with its fierce set of huge jaws and fangs, when the camel spider attacks it makes short work of any prey unlucky enough to fall into its grasp.

But do they attack humans? And did they attack our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan?

It’s a Mojave Desert mystery worth examining….

Here are some interesting facts about these nightmarish little desert monsters that might interest you…

Are camel spiders poisonous?

So far none that have a poisonous bite or venom have yet to be documented. Some have claimed that they have experienced reactions to the bite of a camel spider, or lost pets to the creatures, but so far this seems to be more urban legend than truth.

Do camel spiders scream?

I had never heard this one until I started researching the various urban legends and tales told about them, but this one too seems to be a bit of a myth – although hearing a spider “scream” might just be one of the more terrifying things one might encounter in the Mojave Desert!

How did it get it’s name?

Supposedly in the Middle East, the larger ones would run up to a camel, rip open its belly with their giant fangs, thereby disemboweling the poor animal – then feast on its body when it collapsed to the ground. Nice, huh?

What are some of the other names for the camel spider?

In the Mojave Desert they are most often called “sun spiders” or “wind scorpions”. Colorful, but factually incorrect as they are neither a spider OR a scorpion.

Do giant camel spiders exist?

While there are surely some very large (and in some cases, yet undocumented species out there) nothing along the lines of some of the most outlandish and frankly, horrifying, accounts that have been circulating on the Net. But who knows?

Would YOU want to suffer the attack of a giant camel spider?

NOT ME!

Any tips to help avoid a camel spider attack?

Well, don’t be too worried about an actual attack (unless you’re an insect, small reptile or rodent – or the incredible shrinking man) but one thing I can tell you from personal experience is ALWAYS shake out your gear (sleeping bag, pack, shoes) before returning from the desert. The three times I have had a sun spider in my house was when it hitched a ride home in my backpack, was hiding in some dirty laundry in the garage, or decided to chase some beetles in off the back porch when I left the door open to the backyard for longer than I should have.

And yes, I’ve had them run up my leg when standing near the fire while out camping, although to be fair, once they realized they were on a living human and not some rock or cactus – they skittered down and ran off faster than I could react.

You might think a blog about Mojave Mysteries would be the last place to hear about a true creepy diving experience, but you might just be surprised.

One of the most head-scratching of the “Death Valley Mysteries” ever circulated has to be the tale of “Devil’s Hole” – a little deep-water hole located in one of the most arid regions of the Mojave Desert – good old Death Valley!

And it has a revolving cast of characters like: Charles Manson, Native American Giants, missing divers (quite sad and creepy for sure) as well as a genuine desert mystery of where its waters come from – and where they go!

Check out this episode about a true creepy diving story:

If you’d like to read a TON of really bizarre and terrifying true creepy diving stories then that link will take you to a wealth of personal underwater encounters and happenings of the scariest scuba kind – things like fighting with giant fish, finding bodies in old fishing nets, drownings and all sorts of bizarre things divers have had to deal with (even killer kelp!)

Remember how when you first saw “Jaws” and were scared to go back in the water? Yeah, stuff like that.

Some people fear being alone at night out in the desert, the darkness closing in and strange animals and sounds, but how about being under water or out at sea? Pretty much the same type of creepy scenario, right?

Mojave Desert or an open ocean (or lake for that matter) – a fine place to enjoy a true creepy story or mystery!